Apri 3, 2004 PCOL Exclusive: Preface...In March 2002,
PCOnline asked Jim Fox (Jim Fox, PCV Bangladesh, 1964-65; PCV Iran, 1965-66)
to respond to the proposed use of PC going into Islamic countries, etc. "Using the PC to Reach Out to the Islamic World" came
out in March 2002. It called for not letting the PC
become a political tool of any administration. Once again PCOnline has
asked him to write about proposed roles of PC in the current situation.
His new article, "A Terrible Mess," came out
in April 2004.

Now, as then,
without being politically pro or con, Jim Fox's words are direct, clear
and challenging. He points out what needs to be faced–from the insights
of having been a PCV. What
is your reaction? [ed.]

Using Peace Corps to Reach
Out to the Islamic World: Return
to Afghanistan, Iran, Bangladesh and other Countries

In six months the world has tumbled and turned so much it is hard to
grasp the present, much less predict the future. Yet plans must be made,
life goes on. Peace Corps, like institutions throughout the world must
now react to daily turns of events. Peace Corps is being called to new
duties.

In the initial confusion after the World Trade Center was destroyed,
many Peace Corps Volunteers were pulled from their posts. For "the
safety and security of our volunteers," country programs were closed
down. Meanwhile Americans demanded revenge and retribution. Alliances
were negotiated and the mightiest military force on the planet set its
sights on one of the weakest, broken nations.

Fortunately, the ultra-conservative, fundamentalist Islamic Taliban,
linked to "The Terrorists," were an easy target. Unfortunately
the "war" added to an already unfortunate history of dangerous
anti-Islamic polarization.

Now, urgent new mandates propose that Peace Corps lend legitimacy to
a new multi-agency Freedom Corps, reach out to the Islamic world and lead
the reconstruction effort in Afghanistan. Peace Corps' 40-year history
of non-political respect is being tapped for political purposes. If Peace
Corps is to maintain its integrity, its fundamental principles must not
be co-opted for these short-term goals.

The Freedom Corps will be debated as enabling legislation is developed.
However, doubling in size, return to Islamic countries and involvement
in reconstruction efforts may be executed in haste, with possibly dangerous
results.

Peace Corps' long history of success and respect resulted from its strict
isolation from other governmental Diplomatic, Intelligence and Military
operations. The strength of Peace Corps came from the bottom up, from
the strengths of individual volunteers, living and working at the local
level within local cultures.

Popular perceptions are that Volunteers "teach the American way
of life to the natives of less developed countries." In my experience,
as volunteer and staff-member, it was the volunteers that first went to
learn, that had the most successful tours. Only by living within the local
culture, can one begin to understand what problems really exist and what
solutions may be possible. Often we learn, far more than we teach.

The Administration calls for reaching out to the Islamic World and for
using PCV's in Islamic countries to facilitate communication and understanding.
Excuse me. While this attention is long over due, we have been there all
along. My entire PC experience, and that of many others was in Islamic
countries. We lived and worked there. We brought experiences from home,
and back home. But our experiences and insights have been generally ignored.

One of my greatest frustrations has been countering the religious based
propaganda that stereotypes all Moslems as "the enemy." I have
hundreds of stories of how I was accepted, hosted as a guest and worked
closely with my Islamic coworkers, friends and neighbors.

I used to joke that we should never have drifted into the danger-zone
between Arabs and Jews. Later, I warned it was dangerous to turn our back-side
to the huge Islamic world. Little could I predict where we find ourselves
today. Inexcusable cultural insensitivity has left us in a position with
ties back to Europe's centuries-old Christian Crusades.

Our unilateral military-enforced economic imperialism has inflamed ancient
wounds and put us in a position where we have become the new colonial
power, rather than democratic liberator, and trading partner. We say that
we must destroy an evil force that extends into most every country on
earth. Our arrogant invincibility knows no bounds, as from the safety
of 10,000-feet we destroy evil-forces below, immune from retaliation.

Such naivety leaves us now open to increasing random retaliation. For
individual travelers and isolated workers, the world has become a significantly
more dangerous place. This fundamental change in world stability has occurred
in only a few months.

I lived and worked in remote places. I traveled empty deserts and the
back streets of many third world cities, day and night, never concerned
for my physical safety. Never concerned, like I am in cities here at home.
Now, the threat of random retaliation, anywhere in the world has become
more real. It is a new factor we must deal with.

Peace Corps served in and has now been pulled out of three Islamic countries
that I am familiar with, Iran, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Iran was a wonderful place to live and work in the 1960's, progressing
rapidly, perhaps too rapidly. I was surprised and shocked when the Shah
was overthrown and a religious theocracy gained control. I hear that the
average Iranian is still pro-American. In recent years, Iran has been
rapidly opening up, and I was looking forward to a return visit and normalization
of relations. Now, relations have been set back 10-years, as we prepare
plans for "nuking the evil-axis." "Terrorism" has
nothing to do with the Iranian friends I knew, lived and worked with.
They must not be victims of misguided military adventures. Peace Corps
should return as soon as possible
Bangladeish was one of the poorest countries in the '60's, suffering from
severe overpopulation and political problems. When I returned after 30
years, I was overwhelmed with the progress I found, - some directly attributable
to Peace Corps or USAID efforts back then. The present Bengali-Islamic
government is moderate, providing growth and opportunities for both men
and women alike. The social changes were revolutionary in scope. Our reintroduced
volunteers were doing well. Peace Corps should return as soon as possible.

Afghanistan, in the sixties, was as always an isolated, barren place.
Empty of resources, essentially locally governed by village tradition,
I described it as "the last free place on earth." Vast empty
areas made me suggest renting areas to countries wanting a place for war.
After the lease was up, neighboring villages could mine the war-zone for
scrap metal and surplus weaponry. Afghanistan was a forgotten area, never
conquered for long, peopled by tough, ancient warrior people. Raped by
the Russians, and local militia warfare, it is a country destroyed. I
quietly tolerated our exploitation of their civil war, figuring that Anarchy
was preferable to Taliban domination. It is now a land of occupation,
ripe for Soldiers of Fortune, Arms Merchants, and Carpetbaggers.

We talk of sending Peace Corps volunteers out to lead recovery. This
is premature and must be carefully reassessed. Throwing PCV's out there
to band-aid war wounds and blatantly, anti-Islamic fundamentalist Christian
pandering is hypocritical at best, and dangerously too little, too late.
And legions of Peace Corp Volunteers can't "make it all well."

Afghanistan is still under siege, and we talk of placing naïve or
experienced Peace Corps Volunteers in isolated remote locations.

This is out of the question at this time. Believe it or not, there are
some really irritated people out there. Even with an occupational military
presence, I expect the US, like the British, Russians and Pakistani-Taliban
before, will be expelled from the Afghani homeland.

Unarmed PCV's cannot depend on non-existent local protection.
There are stable Islamic countries where Peace Corps can have reasonable
local support and protection. These sites should be re-opened. The cultural
exchange is valuable, but it must be two-way. We must listen and learn,
as well as teach. Peace Corps must never be exploited as a propaganda,
political, intelligence or covert military tool. Peace Corps has a unique
role, proven by history. Let other agencies carry out other tasks.

Peace Corps must be run by ex-PCV's who have learned cultural sensitivity
and real-politik the hard way. PC staff must have the sensitivity to place
naïve and experienced PCV's in safe productive assignments. We must
not let political necessities throw thousands of sacrificial sheep into
the fields and then express horror when some wolf attacks.

For "the safety and security of our volunteers," Peace Corps
must never become a political tool of this or any future administration.

-----------------------------------------------

Biography:

1964-65 PCV East Pakistan (Bangladesh) RPW, Evacuated
during war.

1965-66 PCV Iran Village Development

1966-68 PC Iran Staff Technical Advisor

1969 Travel Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, work
in Nepal

1995 1-month return visit India, Bangladesh, Nepal

James is presently [March 2002] a professional Civil
Engineer working in Washington State.